Low awareness and use of post-exposure prophylaxis among adolescents and young adults in South Africa: implications for the prevention of new HIV infections

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-248
Author(s):  
Anthony Idowu Ajayi ◽  
Mohammed Sanusi Yusuf ◽  
Elmon Mudefi ◽  
Oladele Vincent Adeniyi ◽  
Ntombana Rala ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Post Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Post Exposure ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

HIV/AIDS Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for Victims of Sexual Assault in South Africa

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
B L Meel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Post Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Post Exposure ◽  
The Third ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Hiv Seropositive

An earlier study (Meel, 2003) showed that more than 90% of victims of sexual assault in Transkei region, South Africa, were HIV-seronegative at the time of the incident. This was despite the fact that the community had a high prevalence of HIV. In sexual assault cases post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is recommended to prevent HIV transmission. Therefore, therapy with zidovudine (AZT) and lamivudine (3TC) is justified. The purpose of this study is to describe the demographic characteristics of the victims, to assess the outcome of HIV transmission and to evaluate the success of PEP after its implementation in Transkei. There were 594 victims of sexual assault during the study period at Sinawe Centre from 2000-2003. Of these, 346 (58.2%) were children under the age of 15 years. Seventeen children (2.9%) were found to be HIV positive at the first test. Among the adults, 58(9.8%) tested HIV positive. Of the 225 who attended after PEP was introduced, only two were found to be HIV seropositive at the time of the incident. A second test was recommended after four weeks and a third after 12 weeks. The majority of the victims did not report for the second test, but all 35 who did come to be tested were seronegative. Seventeen of those were between 11-15 years of age. Only seven victims came for the third test, and they, too, were negative. Nausea and vomiting were the commonest side effects of PEP treatment in four patients and one developed a generalized rash. Only one victim seroconverted.

scholarly journals Knowledge and attitudes of non-occupational HIV post-exposure prophylaxis amongst first- and second-year medical students at Stellenbosch University in South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nondumiso B.Q. Ncube ◽  
Willem A.J. Meintjes ◽  
Lumbwe Chola
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
Post Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Post Exposure ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a worldwide problem, with 68% of infected people residing in sub-Saharan Africa. Antiretroviral therapy is used as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent infection in cases of occupational exposure, and use has recently been expanded to nonoccupational exposure. Studies have demonstrated a lack of awareness of non-occupational PEP (NOPEP) in the general population.Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge and attitudes towards availability of, access to and use of NO-PEP amongst first- and second-year medical students.Setting: Participants were medical undergraduates of Stellenbosch University in the Western Cape of South Africa who were registered in 2013.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 169 students was performed. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires handed out in a classroom in August 2013. Self-reported knowledge and attitudes towards NO-PEP and barriers to access to and use of NO-PEP were analysed using frequency tables. Associations between self-reported and objective knowledge of NO-PEP were analysed by odds ratios.Results: Over 90% of students had good knowledge on HIV transmission, and about 75% knew how it can be prevented. Twenty eight per cent (n = 47) of students reported knowledge of NO-PEP; 67% reported hearing about it from lecturers, whilst 1% reported hearing about it from their partner. Studentswho knew the correct procedure to take when a dose is forgotten were 2.4 times more likely to report knowledge of NO-PEP than those who did not know what to do when a dose is forgotten (p = 0.029). No other associations were statistically signifiant.Conclusion: Students had positive attitudes towards the use of NO-PEP and also identifid barriers to its use. Despite good knowledge of HIV prevention and transmission, knowledge on NO-PEP was poor.

scholarly journals A case of human survival of rabies, South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-68
Author(s):  
Jacqueline Weyer ◽  
Veerle Msimang-Dermaux ◽  
Janusz T. Paweska ◽  
Kevin Le Roux ◽  
Premi Govender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Post Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Neurological Sequelae ◽  
Human Survival ◽  
Post Exposure ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

Human survival from rabies is exceptionally rare. We report a case of human survival (with severe neurological sequelae) in a child from South Africa. The patient was exposed to rabid dogs on two separate occasions and subjected to incomplete post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies.

scholarly journals New Canadian guideline provides evidence-based approach to non-occupational HIV prophylaxis

CJEM ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-25
Author(s):  
Shannon O’Donnell ◽  
Darrell H. S. Tan ◽  
Mark W. Hull
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Occupational Exposures ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Risk Exposure ◽  
Post Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Post Exposure ◽  
Canadian Guideline ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

AbstractThe incidence of HIV infections in Canada has increased yearly since 2014. New cases of HIV have resulted almost exclusively from non-occupational exposures, including sexual contact and needle sharing. Appropriate HIV post-exposure prophylaxis is under-prescribed to patients who present to the emergency department after a high-risk exposure. In November of 2017, a Canadian guideline on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis (nPEP) was published. The guideline presents a standardized, evidence-based approach to assessing risk for HIV transmission and prescribing HIV prophylaxis. This summary highlights the key points from the guideline that are relevant to the practice of emergency medicine in Canada.

scholarly journals Analyzing the Effectiveness of HIV Prevention and Treatments through a Mathematical Model in Simulated Populations

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Regional Differences ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Post Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Post Exposure ◽  
Preventative Measures ◽  
Treatment Data ◽  
Susceptible Populations ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

An epidemiological model for the transmission of HIV/AIDS was developed to analyze the transmission dynamics of HIV in a simulated population. Differential equations derived from the model will be used to show the effectiveness of various treatments and preventative measures used to prevent further spreading of HIV in susceptible populations. Additionally, separate simulations for each of the WHO regions were included to view the spread of HIV on a more focused level rather than on broad global terms to account for regional differences in cases of HIV per capita. HIV data used for the simulations are pulled from WHO’s population data and treatment data was taken from various clinical studies. The results of the simulations show that the world basic reproduction number is 3.33, but regional numbers range from 1.14 to 2.98. We found that post exposure prophylaxis was far more effective at preventing the spread of HIV compared to treatment to viral suppress the infection. Also, without the use of quality post exposure prophylaxis, HIV infections could grow rapidly in the coming years.

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